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LIFT Programs — Let's Invest for Tomorrow

An Initiative of NeighborWorks America and Wells Fargo

The LIFT programs — a collaboration among NeighborWorks America, a local NeighborWorks organization and Wells Fargo — offers homebuyer education and down payment assistance to eligible homebuyers.

Since 2012, the LIFT program has launched in 81 markets across the United States and has provided down-payment assistance to more than 25,000 borrowers, with an investment of nearly $400 million by Wells Fargo. Eligible homebuyers may apply for a mortgage with any participating lender.

How LIFT Programs Work

All LIFT homebuyers are required to take eight hours of homebuyer education classes that adhere to national industry standards. Classes are provided by local NeighborWorks organizations or their approved partners. 
Steps in the Homebuying Process
​As you begin your journey to becoming a homeowner, local NeighborWorks organizations can help you every step of the way.

Borrowers who receive NeighborWorks homebuyer education and counseling are 30% less likely to experience mortgage delinquency. 

The program also includes the NeighborhoodLIFT homeOwnership counseling grants, which provide in-person credit counseling to homebuyers at no charge with a participating HUD-approved housing counselor.

LIFT promotes financial stability among lower-income homebuyers who might otherwise have had difficulty purchasing a home. 
  • 60% of LIFT homebuyers earn 80% or less of the area median income, compared with 27% of conventional buyers.
  • 57% of NeighborhoodLIFT borrowers surveyed indicated it would have taken them 1-5 years to achieve homeownership without LIFT.
  • 94% said owning a home has increased their overall sense of stability.
The Importance of Credit
An important step toward purchasing a home is having good credit. 

A map of the United States that identifies location of LIFT Programs with gold stars from 2012 to August 2020

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Read Success Stories from the LIFT Programs

Check out photos of new homeowners, thanks to the LIFT programs. 
 

Amanda Bridgewater holds her son on her hip in front of her new house, bought with down-payment assistance from LIFT.Small family finds stability through LIFT

Amanda Bridgewater is a nurse in Houston raising two kids on her own. Buying a home where her daughter, Bailey, and son, Aaron could have a permanent place to call home was important to her, but housing prices were out of reach. When she learned about the NeighborhoodLIFT down payment assistance program, a collaboration among NeighborWorks America, local NeighborWorks organizations and Wells Fargo, she decided to look into it. 

She was able to qualify for $15,000 in down payment assistance, which enabled her to purchase a home right away instead of waiting. She became a homeowner in August 2019. "Without LIFT, I might never have been able to buy a house," she says, "especially if I took a couple more years to save while prices kept going up."

The LIFT program requires all borrowers to complete homebuyer education, and Amanda is glad she did. "As a first-time homebuyer, learning all the terms was like learning a different language. The course explained what it all meant and what I was getting myself into. I've recommended it to a few of my coworkers." 

She promised her daughter a dog, and now they have one. Her favorite part of the house is the yard, where they love being together. The house is also energy efficient, which helps with the bills.

Amanda appreciates the stability of homeownership, as well as other benefits. "We don't have to worry about rent going up, and we have lots of room," she says. "And the house is close to work and school. We couldn't be happier."

image for Pursuing the dream:
Pursuing the dream: "This will be my home"
LaTasha Taylor, a single mother of five, worked two jobs and fought through COVID before closing on her new house. On Juneteenth, the people who helped her reach her goal also helped her celebrate.

 

image for Alabama homeowner works to unite neighbors
Alabama homeowner works to unite neighbors
Gerrell Jones uses his experiences and lessons to benefit the youth in his community.


image for Young homeowner achieves goals with a little LIFT
Young homeowner achieves goals with a little LIFT
Nancy Gaucin is only 25 but she's a homeowner thanks to a little guidance and support from NeighborWorks member HomeStart and the Wells Fargo LIFT program.


image for With LIFT, veteran returns to Detroit stronger than ever
With LIFT, veteran returns to Detroit stronger than ever
Kienya and Kathy Rudolph dreamed of becoming homeowners, and Detroit HomeLIFT provided them the chance.

Locations of previous LIFT programs

Albuquerque, New Mexico HomeLIFT

Atlanta, Georgia NeighborhoodLIFT Bakersfield, California HomeLIFT Baltimore, Maryland CityLIFT Charlotte, North Carolina NeighborhoodLIFT Chicago, Illinois CityLIFT Cincinnati, Ohio NeighborhoodLIFT Cleveland, Ohio CityLIFT Dallas, Texas NeighborhoodLIFT Denver, Colorado NeighborhoodLIFT Des Moines, NeighborhoodLIFT Detroit, Michigan HomeLIFT Houston, Texas NeighborhoodLIFT
Indianapolis, Indiana NeighborhoodLIFT
Kansas City, Missouri NeighborhoodLIFT
  • NHS of Kansas City
Los Angeles, California NeighborhoodLIFT Miami, Florida NeighborhoodLIFT Milwaukee, Wisconsin NeighborhoodLIFT
  • Select Milwaukee
New Haven, Connecticut HomeLIFT New Orleans, Louisiana NeighborhoodLIFT New York/New Jersey CityLIFT Oakland, California CityLIFT Orlando, Florida NeighborhoodLIFT Philadelphia, Pennsylvania CityLIFT program has closed. Phoenix, Arizona NeighborhoodLIFT Portland, Oregon NeighborhoodLIFT Sacramento, California NeighborhoodLIFT Salt Lake City, Utah NeighborhoodLIFT San Antonio, Texas NeighborhoodLIFT
San Diego County-Riverside-San Bernardino County, California CityLIFT
St. Louis, Missouri HomeLIFT Stockton-Modesto-Fresno, California HomeLIFT Tampa, Florida NeighborhoodLIFT Tucson, Arizona Virginia Beach, Virginia HomeLIFT Washington, DC/Prince George's County CityLIFT

Homebuyer Tips
Homeowner Tips
LIFT Programs — Let's Invest for Tomorrow
Housing Survey
NeighborhoodLIFT Housing Counseling
NeighborhoodLIFT Homeownership Counseling Initiative
Interested in participating in our initiative? Check our list of open markets. 
LIFT expands minority homeownership opportunities
For most working Americans, homeownership is the primary tool for building wealth. However, saving enough money for a down payment remains the most significant challenge for potential homeowners.